Poorly aligned teeth can cause a plethora of problems and health risks if left untreated. Not only can it affect the appearance of one’s face, but misalignment of teeth introduces a series of damaging results to overall oral health. Topping the list are:
Difficulties with speech
If your teeth are misaligned, it can make it difficult to speak properly. The hard-to-reach areas and spaces created from the irregularities can affect the movement of the tongue across the mouth. This can cause problems with pronunciation and articulation, leading to sloppy-sounding words and phrases. Without proper treatment, these issues can worsen over time, forcing a person to end up communicating their thoughts in ways that may not be easily understood.
It’s important to understand how your dental structure affects speech in order to maximize both oral hygiene and communication accuracy.
Gum disease
Untreated misaligned teeth can lead to a range of serious dental issues, including gum disease. When teeth are improperly aligned or the gaps between them allow food particles and bacteria to accumulate, bleeding gums, inflamed tissue, and receding gums can occur. In the most severe cases, permanent damage may occur to both your gums and bones as the infection spreads through pockets created in the gum line due to swollen tissues.
Over time, these pockets can fill with pus and other materials, leading to further health concerns. With regular professional cleaning from a dentist coupled with brushing and flossing at home, you can take steps to avoid the damaging effects of gum disease caused by untreated misaligned teeth.
Tooth decay
Poorly aligned teeth can lead to an array of problems, not least of which is tooth decay. When teeth are out of alignment it can create spaces in between that are difficult to clean properly and as a result, bacteria will build up leading to cavities and tooth decay. Without proper care and treatment, the decay can become worse, affecting the underlying gums and even impacting your overall health. Regular checkups with your dentist can ensure misalignment issues are identified early, reducing the risk of tooth decay and helping to keep your teeth healthy for life.
Jaw joint disorders
Untreated misaligned teeth can have serious health repercussions, including jaw joint disorders. These disorders occur when the jaw is forced into an unnatural position due to soft tissue and muscles around the temporomandibular joint at the base of the skull becoming compressed and overstretched. Jaw joint disorders can cause pain, discomfort, and limited mobility of the jaw making everyday activities such as eating or speaking more difficult.
In extreme cases, untreated misalignments can lead to facial asymmetry, chronic headaches, and earaches. To prevent these complications it is important to treat misaligned teeth carefully and early in order to avoid long-term damage.
Headaches
A misalignment of the teeth can cause significant headaches, yet it can be easily avoided with proper treatment. Unfortunately, many people neglect to adequately address the issue, and it leads to lower quality of life due to the headaches caused. Not only does an untreated misalignment mean more physical pain and discomfort, but it also means a decrease in one’s mental well-being as the headache makes it difficult to focus and enjoy doing activities that were once enjoyable and possible.
In order to prevent this from happening, scheduling regular checkups with a dentist is vital so that any problems can be addressed in a timely manner before the headaches and other physical issues begin. Nobody should have to experience living with untreated misaligned teeth; seek professional help today!
Bruxism (teeth grinding)
Bruxism, otherwise known as teeth grinding, is one such issue that can result from having an improper bite. This chronic and unconscious grinding of the upper and lower teeth can come from stress or anxiety, but can also be caused by having misaligned teeth. The resulting tension and pressure on the jaw muscles can be debilitating and cause significant pain in both the mouth and head if not treated properly. Regular visits to your dentist for both examination and adjustments are important for keeping proper alignment of your teeth, which in turn keeps the risk of bruxism at bay.
Leaving misaligned teeth untreated can have serious, long-term health consequences. Pain, infections, and further misalignments may occur in the future if an orthodontist in Casper WY is not consulted for a proper diagnosis and solution. Ultimately, the best way to keep your oral health in check is to visit an orthodontist upon feeling discomfort or noticing any changes in one’s smile or bite. If you are experiencing orthodontic problems in Casper WY, please do not hesitate to contact an orthodontist who specializes in treating misalignments as soon as possible. Taking action now could prevent more severe issues from occurring down the line.
